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A rally at Carpinteria’s Bates Beach this Saturday and Sunday openly challenged the necessity of America’s most popular beach accessory: the bathing suit. The suggested replacement for this item? A smile.

Planned by the Santa Barbara-based Nude Beach Alliance, the gathering of nudists served as both a friendly get-together for food and beach games and an opportunity to show off to area residents and government officials just how many people wanting part of the beach designated for nude use. To avoid police involvement, participants did have to wear a bit more than just a smile - that is, the nudists were not nude - but they didn’t let that get in the way of their beach day or their public statement. With signs held upright by the sand, and pamphlets ready to offer any curious passersby, rally participants were ready to spend the day relaxing at the beach while still raising awareness.

The Nude Beach Alliance, along with other organizations, wants to bring back the clothing-optional section of Bates Beach, specifically a quarter-mile stretch of shoreline that prior to the year 2000 had been used as a clothing-optional beach for about 40 years. Over time, members of various groups have developed strategies and suggestions to encourage the return of nude beaches as well as solutions to the problems that led to regulations against them. Currently, only Gaviota and More Mesa beaches offer sections in which people can frolic nude without the threat of citations.

In spite of the complaints registered against the clothing-optional beach that contributed to the increase in enforcement of restrictions on nudity, advocacy groups insist that the positive effects of a nude section of Bates Beach will outweigh the complaints. Supporters have taken a closer look at the financial influences of clothing-optional beaches, especially focusing on tourist dollars. According to Allen Baylis, a director for the Naturist Action Committee, nude beaches can stimulate the economies of the areas that surround them, as evidenced by other communities that have opted to create clothing-optional stretches. The Summer 2009 issue of The Magazine of Naturist Living featured one such beach: Miami-Dade’s Haulover Beach. In 1991, members of South Florida Free Beaches began to use a small nude sunbathing section of the beach at Haulover Beach Park. Today, this area is the destination for hundreds of naturists, from which about 50% are tourists. In 2002, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman wrote, “Haulover Park’s naturist family beach has been good for tourism because of it’s positive effect on the hospitality and tourist industry.” The parking revenue at Haulover increased 445% from 1991 to 2004 an enormous increase, especially in comparison to that of the county’s other oceanfront park, which saw only a 51% increase. The Nude Beach Alliance does not oppose parking fees, and calls attention to the possibility that an available clothing-optional section at Bates Beach would have the potential to generate a large additional profit by charging for parking, considering it would be the only nude beach in the area. Not only do the participants in this campaign believe that they could improve the area economically, they believe that they will improve the beach environment as a whole. The Nude Beach alliance makes efforts to keep the environment healthy and does beach cleanups. “We feel responsibility for the beach we do use,” explained Dan Cruz, a member of the Southern California Naturist Association.

Paul Wellman

In addition to the concerns about nude beaches voiced by residents of beachside homes, other issues arose that led to the discontinuation of the clothing-optional feature of Bates Beach. Concerns of lewd behavior and the rights of those who come across the nude beach accidentally contributed to the eventual regulations put into place with the Santa Barbara County Nudity Ordinance of 1977, which prohibits “nudity in public places, places open to the public, and places open to public view whether such places are publicly or privately owned, even when such nudity is not sexually motivated or otherwise lewd”, declaring it a “public nuisance and unlawful.” The supporters of a clothing-optional beach have taken these concerns into consideration, and have developed solutions. They intend to establish a Beach Ambassador/Neighborhood Watch program - a group of volunteers present to monitor nude beach behavior and preserve respectful decorum. “If you came to us and said someone was sitting too close or making you uncomfortable, we might come and sit right between you,” explained Nude Beach Alliance Board Member Sonya Robinson, “and maybe put our umbrella down so it blocks them,” she chuckled.

The various naturist organizations expressed their willingness to share the beach with everyone, clothed or not - all they ask for is mutual respect. Members of naturist groups present at the rally all agreed that signs are a crucial part of maintaining an acceptable clothing-optional beach. Signs advise beach visitors that they are entering a section of the beach where there is nudity; this precaution will prevent uncomfortable situations and disgruntled beach-goers who may be taken by surprise. “We would like to have a small portion of the beach,” explained Robinson. “We want to avoid infringing on other areas.”

The fight for clothing-optional beaches is statewide, and numerous organizations, societies, and clubs are participating in the campaign. The Nude Beach Alliance started an online petition last year, which accumulated over 2,000 signatures of people who support a clothing-optional section of Bates Beach immediately North of the Ventura-Santa Barbara county line. Representatives from the Nude Beach Alliance, which is a subsidiary of the Southern California Naturist Association, recently met with a staff member of county supervisor Salud Carbajal to discuss the beach parameters they are aiming to adjust. Members of the alliance are hoping that Carbajal will discuss the issue with the Board of Supervisors and agree to a two-year moratorium on citations for nudity alone. This would provide an opportunity for some observation of the clothing-optional beach section’s effect on crime rates, public views, and economic conditions.

In the past, Bates Beach was a place where the naturist community hosted gatherings and joined together for events and holidays. According to rally attendees, problems started after nudists were “chased away.” Nude beach supporters claim that when clothing became mandatory and nudist gatherings at Bates Beach ceased, the unpopulated coast area became more susceptible to illegal acts, and crime rates increased. They believe that the return of a clothing-optional beach section will improve the safety of Bates Beach and the area surrounding it, based on the theory that if people occupy the area more frequently, there will be slimmer chances for an undetected car break-in, and fewer opportunities for sexual assaults. Expected, according to the nudists, is an overall increase in visitors to the currently less-than-crowded beach, an adjustment that they say could also decrease some of the suspicious activity known to accompany deserted public areas.

After all of their other problems have been settled, nudists come to the final issue under debate: individual opinions about nudity. It is true that people have the right to feel offended or uncomfortable, but how much weight should their opposition hold? Should percentages of those in favor versus those opposed be taken into consideration? These questions are subject to extensive debate, and have certainly sparked the interest of nudists. “You know, people argue that ‘Beaches are for all people to enjoy’,” said Baylis. “Last time I checked, we were part of all people.”

I wrote a blog in support of nudist beaches...the experience saved my sanity!The Sober SpitbathNudist,Naturist...Water BabyPOSTED NOVEMBER 1, 2008 BY ELIZABETH MENZIESNow coming up on my tenth year of sobriety, I am learning to like myself, just as I am. I come from a family of women who are round. Zophtique is my favorite word for it, it is Yiddish for curvy. And so I am. In my family I am considered "skinny". In downtown Santa Barbara, where I live, I am not. My body issues have haunted me since I was a teen. A lot of my drinking was about my inability to accept my body. The reality is I have a great shape and I carry some extra weight. It has not been easy for me to "love" my body, just as it is. At forty-eight years old and nine and a half years sober, I think I am finally getting it. Alcoholics by nature are slow learners. These days, most days, I can look at myself naked and at last, smile. How did I do it?......continued at the link below...

Live and let live, especially since the group requesting it appears to be offering something in return. If they are willing to put the work in to have the right to share a small section of the local beachs why not give them a area that is clothing optional.

The world is too much with us; late and soon,Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers:Little we see in nature that is ours;We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon;The Winds that will be howling at all hoursAnd are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers;For this, for every thing, we are out of tune;It moves us not-Great God! I'd rather beA Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,Have glimpses that would make me less forlornHave sight of Proteus coming from the sea,Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn.

How come dogs have their own designated run areas, with their elbows, tongues, nipples, hang outs, and the red light on the tail end of the caboose flapping in the breeze as they run along, and humans do not?

You are the reason nudists keep the location of these places a well kept (known) secret. Because real naturists or nudists are of all ages and shapes and not ashamed of their bodies but comfortable in their skin. People who view it as a meat market or a pick-up place have contributed to the closure of these beaches, due to their misconception that nudity equals sex.

I know that I was glad to find a place where I can relax and feel the glorious sun on my entire body the way God made it. I do not go to these beaches to look at anyone or to be an exhibitionist. Most nudists will not expose themselves in an area where it is not accepted. We are not criminals and should have bleaches set aside where it is allowed. I have been to More Mesa a few times and never had much of a problem with anyone. Of course there are the occasional gawkers, but it is a hike so that weeds out a lot of pervs unlike my experience at Rincon a few months ago.

In the late 90's my wife and I moved to the Santa Barbara area from El Cajon. We were frequent users of Blacks Beach and moving here meant the end of our nude beach days we thought. To our surprise the cover story of the Independent that week was "Santa Barbara's nude beaches. I think there were about 5 or 6 beaches listed from Rincon to Gaviota. When we opened an account at B of A the bank employee helping us warned us not to go too far past Gaviota State beach or we would run into naked people. Off we went to Gaviota and the nude beach. Our only problem that day was that we had our dog with us and a park ranger told us we would have to take the dog home. He paid no attention to the fact that we were nude.

Today the scene is much different. I'm sorry your story pointed out that the only nude beaches in the area are More Mesa and Gaviota. The reason is that now for a month or more there will be lots of lone men at those beaches harassing the few women that are there. It always happens. When ever Playboy would list Blacks as a nude beach it would be ruined for the rest of the summer.

It will be a couple of months before the beaches mentioned will return to being used only by only the regulars again.

If your intent is to go to a nude beach to see a bunch of naked young women you'd be better off surfing on the internet than surfing at More Mesa or Gaviota.

According to many, the three best clothing optional beaches on the West Coast are Vancouver's Wreck Beach, Torrey Pines' Black's Beach and our own More Mesa. Having been to each of them I can attest that they are not only the finest CO beaches, but are among the prettiest and most relaxing beaches of any kind.

Unfortunately, there is again talk of despoiling the wonderful meadow that provides access to More Mesa. To help stop this unnecessary development of one of the few parts of our coastline still in its natural state, contact the More Mesa Preservation Coalition at www.moremesa.org and moremesa@mindspring.com